Pup ‘Tirik,’ dragged by moving tricycle in viral video, now safe

MANILA, Philippines — Five-month-old puppy Tirik, dragged along the San Pascual-Bauan road while tethered to a moving tricycle, is now safe, the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) said.

In a viral video posted on social media, Tirik was seen being pulled by a tricycle, with his leash attached to the vehicle.

According to AKF, the tricycle driver, who was also Tirik’s owner, was unaware that the puppy had fallen off the vehicle.

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The dog was dragged for approximately 300 meters before the driver noticed, after other motorists alerted him.

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“He said he took the dog with him because it was alone and he needed to pick someone up,” AKF president and executive director Atty. Heidi Marquez-Caguioa told the Inquirer in an interview, relaying the driver’s explanation.

The driver said he took Tirik to a veterinary clinic after the incident.

The dog reportedly sustained cuts and skin lesions, although veterinarians found no severe fractures.

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The driver reportedly appeared voluntarily at the local police station, where he submitted a notarized statement and a video explaining the incident. He also cooperated with AKF representatives.

After a concerned citizen reported the incident on Oct. 7, AKF immediately sought to identify the driver, offering a P25,000 reward for information on his whereabouts.

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According to Marquez-Caguioa, the foundation was prepared to file appropriate charges if the investigation established negligence on the owner’s part.

Anyone found liable for animal abuse may face charges under Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act, as amended.

“The Animal Welfare Act prohibits the commission or inflicting of any form of cruelty and maltreatment to any animals,” she explained.

Tirik was reportedly adopted by the driver’s family from his relatives.

The driver expressed remorse for the incident and vowed to ensure the dog’s welfare moving forward, Marquez-Caguioa said. She added that he had provided the foundation with an update on the dog’s condition.

“We always really give an opportunity and a chance to listen and to investigate what really happened. And in this particular case, we were able to validate that the person did not intend to hurt the animal,” she said.

Marquez-Caguioa urged the public to report suspected animal cruelty in their communities to the authorities.

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“Animal welfare is not just our responsibility; it’s a community effort. It takes a village to make sure that the animals in our community are protected,” she said. /das